Country
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Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Political Status: Independence originally proclaimed in 1821 as part of Gran Colombia; independent republic established in 1830; federal constitutional system restored in 1958. Current constitution approved by referendum on December 15, 1999.
Area: 358,850 sq. mi. (916,445 sq. km).
Population: 30,405,207 (2014E—UN); 28,868,486 (2014E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2011E): CARACAS (1,942,652), Maracaibo (1,898,700), Valencia (1,380,000), Barquisimeto (936,000).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Bolívar (market rate October 1, 2014: 6.29 bolívares fuertes = $1US). [Note: devalued February 2013.]
President: Nicolás MADURO (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) inaugurated on April 19, 2013, for a five-year term, following the death of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Hugo Rafael CHÁVEZ Frías (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) on March 5, 2013.
Executive Vice President: Jorge ARREAZA (United Socialist Party of Venezuela), appointed ...